Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

May Day Protests Sweep the Globe

Russia, Malaysia, Taiwan, France ... the planet marches

By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff

Posted May 1, 2012 7:21 AM CDT | Updated May 1, 2012 7:31 AM CDT

(Newser) – May Day rallies are in effect in all corners of the globe, from Greece and Iraq to France and the Philippines—and, soon, stateside. What began as an international workers' holiday has morphed into an international day of protest, fueled in part by the Occupy Wall Street movement, with Asians clamoring for increased wages and Europeans blasting the austerity measures sweeping their continent. Thus far, all seems largely peaceful: Some 100,000 people took to the streets in Moscow, joined by a "happily chatting" Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin, reports the AP, while in Manila, some 8,000 red-shirted workers had their demand for a $3-a-day pay raise rejected by the president ... who was burned in effigy.

Reuters reports that 5,000 marched peacefully in Athens (though they held signs declaring "Revolt Now), and tens of thousands more are expected in Lisbon and in Spain, where unions have pushed for protests in 80 towns and cities. In the US, New York to Los Angeles and cities in between are bracing for what the Post predicts will be " hellacious commutes," thanks in part to a planned Williamsburg Bridge-to-Wall Street march and a "Bike Bloc" in Union Square.

A Greek Communist party supporters holds a red carnation during a May Day protest on Tuesday May 1, 2012, in the Aspropyrgos industrial area, outside Athens.
A Greek Communist party supporters holds a red carnation during a May Day protest on Tuesday May 1, 2012, in the Aspropyrgos industrial area, outside Athens.   (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Greek Communist party supporters take part in a May Day protest on Tuesday May 1, 2012.
Greek Communist party supporters take part in a May Day protest on Tuesday May 1, 2012.   (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A protester wears a shirt with words that read We are worker, We are not slavery  during a rally marking May Day in Hong Kong Tuesday, May 1, 2012.
A protester wears a shirt with words that read "We are worker, We are not slavery " during a rally marking May Day in Hong Kong Tuesday, May 1, 2012.   (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
A protester holds a placard during a march as part of the annual May Day workers' events on May 1, 2012 in the western French city of Rennes.
A protester holds a placard during a march as part of the annual May Day workers' events on May 1, 2012 in the western French city of Rennes.   (Getty Images)
Doctors from a local hospital display placards protesting against overtime working hours during a May Day rally in Taipei on May 1, 2012.
Doctors from a local hospital display placards protesting against overtime working hours during a May Day rally in Taipei on May 1, 2012.   (Getty Images)
Militants and labour union members (top-L) gather around a burning the effigy of Philippine President Benigno Aquino in Manila on May 1, 2012.
Militants and labour union members (top-L) gather around a burning the effigy of Philippine President Benigno Aquino in Manila on May 1, 2012.   (Getty Images)
Iraqi-Kurdish members of the Communist party hold gardening tools and political banners during a march in northern Iraqi city of Arbil to mark May Day.
Iraqi-Kurdish members of the Communist party hold gardening tools and political banners during a march in northern Iraqi city of Arbil to mark May Day.   (Getty Images)
An elderly Russian woman carries Soviet flag during a communist Party supporters rally to mark May Day in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 1, 2012.
An elderly Russian woman carries Soviet flag during a communist Party supporters rally to mark May Day in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 1, 2012.   (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
3%
7%
2%
47%
2%
38%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 41 comments
boxcar
May 1, 2012 2:00 PM CDT
In the next go-round of The Great Recession, when the rest of it comes ashore be end of this year, there will be a repeat of Fall 2008 wherein we'll see the rest of middle class wealth transferred into coffers of the top 10% wealthy and it means end of middle class America- Mechanism was Bush SEC removal on 7/7/7 of the 1937 Uptick Rule- Lynch-Pin for the Housing Bubble. It has yet to be reinstated by either party as if it did not matter Google "Mortgage Resets" to see where HALF of US commercial property is scheduled to be reset 2012 It peaks Jan'13 but by then Banksters will have shorted this fiasco and more Millionaire Hedge Fundsters will become Billionaire$ almost overnite, just as so many did Fall 2008. All of this predicted by the NSO solar scientist's 1993 discovery "Solar Mortality Theory" that an event would take place 2007.5 to trigger economic collapses on a global basis- wherein it recurs every 3 generations to define Modern History since late 18th century- But a solution can be found in Human Rights, as in China- Until the Human Rights of Reproduction are addressed, where you have a right to reproduce ONCE only, history will continue to repeat itself with recurring bouts with global socio-economic upheavals AGAIN and AGAIN. To simply say NEVER AGAIN, is to stick one's head into the sands of time like a stoopid bird. The years of upheaval were 1860s, 1930s & NOW where GENOCIDE occurs to balance out current ratio of 2 Births to 1Death. Most US leaders have NO CLUE as to what the real problem is- too many changos The first event 2007.5 brought US gov't to its knees. This next event by Jan'13 will cut off legs at the knees To BE PREPARED was never more important for we'll see the demise of the middle class in next go-round That's when every American will be struck by the premise that all along, "America" was a BIG LIE 
roadhog
May 1, 2012 11:29 AM CDT
As karl Marx said; "May Day repeats itself as farce."
thelogical1
May 1, 2012 9:49 AM CDT
Often middle class people listen to millionaire/billionaire talking heads rant and rave about the entitlement society. They cheer them on because they believe they are taking about welfare queens and benefit grifters. Trust me they are not. They are talking about the salt of the earth middle class person and what they refer to as the "Middle Class Retirement System". Social security, medicare, and medicaid. They would end all three tommorrow if they could because they do not benefit them and without them their tax burden could be reduced to nill. It is all about greed and naive, ignorant middle classers are being a party to their own demise.
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   World History Project   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne